Rep. Cliff Stearns's last stand

Just weeks after his shocking primary loss, Rep. Cliff Stearns is preparing for what will probably be his final moment in the congressional spotlight — the House’s response to his long-running investigation of Solyndra.

The House will vote this week on the Florida Republican’s signature legislation, the “No More Solyndras Act,” a message bill that marks the culmination of his 18-month probe into the $535 million Solyndra loan guarantee.

Text Size

-

+

reset

The legislation, which would phase out the Energy Department’s loan-guarantee program, is expected to easily pass the House, handing Republicans a symbolic victory heading into the election — even though the bill has little chance of being approved by the Senate or signed into law.

The victory will be even sweeter for Stearns, whose 24-year career in the House is coming to an abrupt end after he was bested in last month’s primary by Ted Yoho, a large-animal veterinarian with no experience in public office.

“This is his swan song,” said one oil industry lobbyist — one of several observers who doesn’t expect Stearns to have much of an encore in Washington.

Privately, Republicans say Stearns made enemies in the capitol by closely guarding his campaign war chest, rarely contributing to the National Republican Congressional Committee. House Speaker John Boehner reportedly poked fun at Stearns in 2010 after he ended a long streak of not giving to candidates.

Stearns also left around $2 million unspent in his race against Yoho.

“Cliff Stearns will always be remembered among his colleagues and staff on Capitol Hill for being tight-fisted with his campaign dollars down to the bitter end,” a former NRCC official told POLITICO in an email. “After years of refusing to support the NRCC’s efforts to protect, save, and win the majority in the House, it is ironic that the reason for his loss is due to his unwillingness to part ways with his campaign war chest.”

But one Republican lawmaker said Stearns’s departure will leave a hole on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where Stearns led both the Solyndra probe and a high-profile investigation of Planned Parenthood.

“From a House experience standpoint, Cliff has been a very solid conservative member, both on the committee and on the floor. And he will be missed,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said. “He will be missed for his voting record and for his leadership on the subcommittee. And I’ll miss him personally as a friend.”

Stearns, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight panel, told POLITICO this week that he views his Solyndra investigation as a key part of his legacy in Congress. He said he hadn’t yet cemented his post-Congress plans.

“I’m going to start the interview process and I’ve also prepared a resume. But right now, I’m just going to work hard over the next four months,” he said, adding that he hasn’t decided whether he wants to stay in Washington or go back to Florida.

Stearns declined a request for a longer interview, directing follow-up questions to his office.

In a statement to POLITICO, Stearns said his panel’s Solyndra investigation “uncovered serious flaws in the program as well as extensive political influence throughout the loan-guarantee process.”

The White House strongly denies that the administration’s renewable energy investments were dictated by politics. Republicans have been unable to prove their claims to the contrary, despite uncovering a wealth of documents showing that lower-level administration officials had raised concerns about the Solyndra loan guarantee.

But, will it stop Obama from selling legislation to special interests for special favors other than loans? WE know Obama has been proficient in trading legislation, loans, loan guarantees and the like for campaign donations to Solyndra, GM, the unions and other scumbags - Will the Obama's be jailed for such criminal acts or praised by the media as they are now - GM has cost us TEN's of BILLIONS - Obama saw that the UAW made out like BANDITO's for their help in donating labor and millions to his campaign - common knowledge but Obama remains out of prison! WHY?

Then we have the Chebbie VOLT that is a prime JOKE in the auto world! It takes hours to charge for every hour of use. It burns down garages! It can only be purchased by government entities and dumb rich, elite Liberals. The rest of the world thinks Obama's favorite car is a JOKE!

Germany shut down 8 of its 15 nuclear power plants and has been steadily building solar/wind power plants.

This year has been the best year ever in terms of power reliability for the country. Power was lost for 14 minutes for the year.

Utilities, government, communities, cities are all working to build their own homegrown power.

Luckily, Germany does not have the republicans to be constantly fighting. The republicans have created an energy sector that is chaotic which is their aim. It's too bad, America used to be so innovative.